Analysis of pooled data from randomized trials provides evidence for the efficacy of use of bright light therapy ≥ 5,000 lux for periods ≥ 30 minutes when used as augmentation to standard antidepressant pharmacotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression without a seasonal pattern.

No abstract

Loperamide is widely available as an inexpensive, over-the-counter remedy commonly used for management of diarrhea. Although an opioid, at therapeutic doses it acts primarily on the gastrointestinal tissues; however, larger than recommended amounts facilitate central nervous system (CNS) penetration. Such high doses of loperamide have recently gained popularity among users of opioids to manage withdrawal symptomatology and, less frequently, to achieve psychoactive effects. Chronic loperamide use can result in development of tolerance and, upon abrupt cessation of use, withdrawal. With increasing prevalence of use, side-effects are noted, one particularly being life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Users are often not forthcoming and routine drug screens do not detect loperamide, so providers need to be alert to such practices in order to recognize intoxication, be able to screen for use, and facilitate entry into treatment.

No abstract

Use in amounts exceeding those recommended, a practice known as "Robotripping", may result in a toxidrome of psychomotor agitation, hallucinations and paranoia best characterized as Intoxication Delirium. Increasing misuse places greater numbers at risk. Providers should be alert to such presentations and be aware of methods for managing the symptoms. With chronic use, tolerance and withdrawal has been noted along with prolonging psychiatric sequelae. (Am J Addict 2016;25:374-377).

No abstract

Background: Human myelogenous leukemia characterized by either the non random t(8; 21)(q22; q22) or t(16; 21)(q24; q22) chromosome translocations differ for both their biological and clinical features. Some of these features could be consequent to differential epigenetic transcriptional deregulation at AML1 targets imposed by AML1-MTG8 and AML1-MTG16, the fusion proteins deriving from the two translocations. Preliminary findings showing that these fusion proteins lead to transcriptional downregulation of AML1 targets, marked by repressive chromatin changes, would support this hypothesis. Here we show that combining conventional global gene expression arrays with the power of bioinformatic genomic survey of AML1-consensus sequences is an effective strategy to identify AML1 targets whose transcription is epigenetically downregulated by the leukemia-associated AML1-MTG16 protein.

Dextromethorphan (DXM) in combination with antihistamines and/or pseudoephedrine is widely available as an over-the-counter remedy commonly used for relief of colds and cough. In supratherapeutic amounts, DXM can be extremely activating. These cough preparations have been adopted by many young users of recreational drugs for their psychoactive effects. When used in amounts exceeding those recommended, this practice, known as "robotripping," may result in a manic toxidrome of psychomotor agitation, hostility, grandiose behavior, hallucinations, paranoia, and panic. A case illustration of this phenomenon is described and implications of this phenomenon discussed. There are few reports associating DXM use with bipolar symptomatology.